 |
|
|||
|
|
||||
 |
|
| Peacekeeping 1979-96
While Australian Army commitments to peacekeeping were initiated in 1947 - 51 with UNCOC/UNCI, UNCOK, UNMOGIP and UNC-K, as mentioned previously, other involvements prior to 1979, all generally of a token size, were as follows: UNCMAC (Korea - Truce Supervision) 1953-* UNTSO (Middle East - Truce Supervision) 1956-* ONUC (Congo - Medical Assistance) 1960-61. UNTEA (West New Guinea - Helicopter Support) 1962. UNYOM (Yemen - Truce Supervision) 1963. UNIPOM (India/Pakistan - Truce Supervision) 1965-66 UNDOF (Syria - Disengagement Observers) 1974-* UNEF II (Sinai - Truce Supervision, Staff) 1976-80. UNIFIL (Lebanon - Truce supervision) 1978. From 1979, the scale of Australian Army commitments generally increased significantly, in several cases to major unit level: Commonwealth Monitoring Force (CMF) (Rhodesia - Observers) 1979-80. Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) Sinai - Aviation, Staff) 1982-86, 1993-* UNIIMOG (Iran - Truce Supervision) 1988-90. UNTAG (Namibia - Engineer Assistance) 1989-90. UNMCTT (Afghanistan/Pakistan - Mine Clearance Training) 1989-93. MIF I (Gulf - Air Defence Detachment for RAN ship) 1990-91. MNF (I-K) (Iraq/Kuwait - miscellaneous detachments) 1990-91- see Gulf War 1990-91. UNSCOM (Iraq - Inspection of weapons capabilities) 1991-* MINURSO (Western Sahara - Communications) 1991-94. UNAMIC (Cambodia - Communications) 1991-92. UNTAC (Cambodia - Unit Communications, etc) 1992-93. UNPROFOR (Former Yugoslav states – Observers) 1992-93. UNOSOM (Somalia - Movement control) 1992; 1993-95. UNITAF (Somalia - Protection of Humanitarian Aid) 1992-93. UNAMIR (Rwanda - Medical Support and Protection) 1994-95 (* indicating 'continuing as at 1999') The most significant of these operations was UNTAC, in which the Australian Army provided both the commander of the UN Force, Lieutenant General John Sanderson, whose task was to oversee the disarming of 250,000 Cambodians, and the Force Communications Unit of 500 personnel. The second most significant operation was UNITAF, for which 1RAR with supporting arms elements provided protection to humanitarian aid in south-western Somalia. Next in significance was UNAMIR, in which a medical unit of 100 with a rifle company from 2RAR and supporting troops provided medical support primarily for the UN force but also assisted local people.
|
